Horses & Riding

The horse, with beauty unsurpassed, strength immeasurable and grace unlike any other, still remains humble enough to carry a man upon his back. Your journey with us will bring essential joy of being in contact with rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit and freedom, the horse and its nature.

Horses

The horses are all purpose trained safari horses, with a mix of local breeds and thoroughbreds. Close to all of them are ridden in western style, with one hand. This allows you to take photos and dig into your saddlebag while out on safari. Only some of them are ridden English style, if this is the case the guide will tell you before you mount your horse. All horses are given lots of love, care and attention, therefore resulting in their nice characters and strong personalities. They all have their own heads with different temperaments, which allows us to find a perfect fit for each rider.

Tack

All the horses come with their own tack, some in Australian stock saddles and some in Wintec and English (all-­‐‑ round) saddles. All horses go on snaffle bridles. Also each rider will carry a saddlebag with essentials out on safari.

Riding ability

Different routes require different riding skills. For beginners the rider must be able to walk and trot with the horse under control. Intermediate riders must be able to post the trot for a longer distance, be comfortable at all paces and able to gallop out of trouble. Experienced riders must be confident and comfortable at all paces over any terrain, ability to gallop for a longer distance and if needed out of trouble. A fit and proficient rider is of big advantage out on safari.

Weight limit

Maximum weight is 85 kg (13.5 stones). Other arrangements could be organized subject to availability and would have to be requested well in advance.

Safety

Out on safari the lead guide is armed and we communicate over radios and cell phones, with a mobile station in each vehicle.

Guiding

All guides are qualified and professionally trained, with good knowledge about Tanzania’s fauna and flora. A keen interest is taken in the smaller creatures as well as bigger game. The cultural visits bring in knowledge of medicinal and traditional beliefs about Tanzania’s trees and plants.

Groups

Fly camp horse safaris, a maximum of 10 guests with exceptions for private bookings, where we can accommodate 16 riders.

Time spent in the saddle

We aim to do between 5 – 7 hours in the saddle a day. During the rides we will stop for drinks and refreshments and a three-­‐‑hour lunch break, with time for a siesta. The terrain will vary and some legs will have to be done by foot, which is also a good opportunity to rest the horse’s backs and loosen up the rider’s muscles.

Routes and the terrain

The terrain varies from place to place, everything from open savannah, acacia woodland, and Doum Palm forests to really thick vegetation. Open savannah caters for long, adrenaline thrilling gallops while in thick bush all ears and eyes must be alert for any game we might encounter. Depending on climate and rainfall we will cross-­‐‑ riverbeds and ride along the shores of beautiful lakes. Apart from game

Game viewing

Each ride is different to one another. The great thing about Tanzania is the fact that there are very few fences around. Due to this fact it is very hard to pin what there is to be seen and what isn’t to be seen. The areas that we have choose for strong beginners are places where the game isn’t as high and dence in numbers, more opened which allows us a better view of our surroundings, an area where big game is very rarely seen. However as mentioned before there is no fences thereof animals can travel and move as they like. Areas where we require each and every rider to be strong intermediate is trough areas where the bigger game are more abundant. Saying this, everyone needs to bear in mind that any wildlife seen is a bonus and never a guarantee. Even though Tanzania is world famous for its wildlife which is best viewed from what back in the days also used to roam wild, the horse. You will never forget the feeling of galloping alongside a herd of giraffes out on the African savannah; it is a memory that will last you a lifetime.

On Horse Safari with Kaskazi

Day one, you will be exhausted and full of amazement. Day two, you will arrive in camp unable to walk and nearly too exhausted to eat. A good night’s rest and you will wake up and the horse will lend you his strength, speed and grace to continue, you will give him guidance, intelligence and understanding greater than his and together you can achieve a richness that neither can alone. Day four, as companions you have the strength to carry on the day with triumph. The days go by and suddenly the sad day comes when the companionship come to an end.